Improvement in gate-latches



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PATENTE J'L 25 1871 u Inventor. /d/Lf O/h L fitne in each of the tgures.

FICE.

CHARLES H. FREITAG, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLDTOIS.

` IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,401, dated July 25, 1871.

' is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, rei'- erence being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this speciiication, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of my device detached, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a gate with the same in position.

Letters oi' like name and kind refer to like parts My invention is an improvement in gravity gate-latches and it consists in the peculiar conwith said latch, and furnishes a pivotal bearing for and upon which the same oscillates. One end ot' said latch is square, and has a sufcient size to give to it the required transverse strength, While its opposite end is enlarged vertically, so as to increase its Weight and cause it to overbalance said square or outer end. As thus constructed, the squared end of the latch is inserted Within a suitable slot passing horizontally and in a line with the fence, through the outer vertical rail (l of a gate, with its end projecting beyond the outer face of the same, Where Yit is held in position by means of a cap, D, provided With a lvertical slot, d, of a suicient size to enable it to pass over the enlarged en'd of said latch, and

having a horizontal groove, d', for containing the rod B land furnishing a bearing for the same. Upon each end of said rod is provided a knob, B', which knobs and rod, together with the latch, are formed of or from one piece of cast metal. A keeper, E, having the form shown in Fig. 1, being let into the inner face of the post F, so as to receive and engage with the outer end of the latch, the device is complete, and is operated as follows:

To release the gate, the outer end of the latch is depressed (by means of the projecting ends of the rod B) until it is free from the notch of the keeper, while to close and lock said gate it is only necessary to push it inward until the end of said latch strikes against the do miward-inclinin g edge of said keeper, by means of Which said end is depressed until it passes into its notch, Where it is held by the inner or Weighted end.

The especial advantage possessed by this construction oi a latch is that each of its parts may be cast and used Without other fitting than countersinking the screw-holes.

Having thus full y set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new is- The latch A, pivotal rod B, and knobs B', cast in one piece and combined with the cap-plate D and keeper E, in the manner and for the purpose speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of March,

e GHAS. H. FREITAG. Witnesses:

JAMns R. RoWAN, A. KassBnRGEn. 

